MISSOULA, Mont. – The Portland State softball team split their doubleheader against Montana this afternoon, opening with a commanding 9-3 victory before suffering a 9-1 run-rule loss in game two at the Grizzly Softball Field.

Heading into tomorrow's rubber match, the Vikings hold a 17-20 overall record (6-4 BSC), while the Griz stand at 17-27 (1-10 BSC).

In game one, Grace Kimball secured her 11th win of the year on the rubber, tallying seven strikeouts while limiting the Griz to just two earned runs. The Vikings seized an early lead, scoring three runs with RBI contributions from Logan Riggenbach and Paetynn Lopez. Montana responded with a run in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on a PSU error to narrow the gap to 3-1. The Vikings extended their lead in the top of the fourth with a two-RBI double from Lorraine Alo. Despite Montana chipping away with a run in the bottom of the fourth, the Vikings secured the win with a late burst, scoring four runs in their final at-bat highlighted by RBI from Lopez and Emily Johansen.

The Vikings out-hit the Griz 10-8 in the win. Alo, Lopez, and Grace Johnson combined for six of those hits, recording two each.

Lorraine Alo knocked in the Vikings' sole run of game two during the third inning, giving PSU a 1-0 lead. However, Montana responded, surging ahead with five runs in the third and four more in the fourth, before sealing the run-rule win with a scoreless fifth inning.

The series will conclude tomorrow (Saturday, April 21st) in the finale scheduled for 11:00 a.m. PT/12:00 p.m. MT at the Grizzly Softball Field.